Insulating cup sleeve system

ABSTRACT

The invention described herein is an insulating cup sleeve system comprising a sleeve segment, where an inner surface and an outer surface cover an insulating material, where an upper edge and a lower edge couple the inner surface to the outer surface, and where a first end and a second end of the sleeve segment couple the inner surface to the outer surface, and an elastic gusset couples the first end to the second end of the sleeve segment to form a tubular shape. The elastic gusset allows the sleeve segment to adjust to various cup shapes and sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cut-away view showing the components for an INSULATING CUPSLEEVE SYSTEM according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sleeve segment for an INSULATING CUPSLEEVE SYSTEM according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an elastic gusset for an INSULATING CUPSLEEVE SYSTEM according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description of the preferred embodiments of the inventionis intended to enable someone skilled in the prior art to make and usethis invention, but is not intended to limit the invention to thesepreferred embodiments.

Now referring to FIG. 1, the invention described herein is an insulatingcup sleeve system 100 preferably comprising a sleeve segment 110, wherean inner surface 120 and an outer surface 130 cover an insulatingmaterial 140, where an upper edge 150 and a lower edge 160 couple theinner surface 120 to the outer surface 130, and where a first end 170and a second end 180 of the sleeve segment 110 couple the inner surfaceto the outer surface; and an elastic gusset 190 couples the first end170 to the second end 180 of the sleeve segment 110 to form a tubularshape.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve segment partially wraps around a cup 230to provide protection from the heat or cold temperatures escapingthrough the sidewall of the cup 230. The upper edge 210 and the loweredge 220 of the sleeve segment 240 are preferably further comprised ofrolled seams extending the entire circumference of the sleeve segment240. The rolled seams are preferably stitched to the inner surface andthe outer surface to fully encompass the insulating material within thesleeve segment 240.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sleeve segment 310 further comprises a first end330 and a second end 340 to further enclose the insulating material inbetween the inner surface and the outer surface of the sleeve segment310. The sleeve segment first end 330 preferably further comprises aseam where the inner surface is preferably coupled to the outer surfaceand an elastic gusset 320 first end. Also, the sleeve segment second end340 preferably further comprises a seam where the inner surface ispreferably coupled to the outer surface 310 and an elastic gusset 320second end.

As further shown in FIG. 3, the elastic gusset is coupled to the sleevesegment first end 330 and the sleeve segment second end 340 such thatthe combination of the sleeve segment coupled to the elastic gussetprovides a continuous sleeve system in a tubular shape structured andarranged to completely circumscribe a cup 350, or other liquid vessel.The sleeve segment 310 comprises approximately two-thirds (⅔) tothree-quarters (¾) of the total circumference of the insulating cupsleeve system. The elastic gusset 320 comprises approximatelyone-quarter (¼) to one-third (⅓) of the total circumference of theinsulating cup sleeve system. Additionally, the elastic gusset 320 ispreferably the same width as the sleeve segment 310 extending from thesleeve segment upper edge 360 to the sleeve segment lower edge 370.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve segment 240 is preferablycomprised of a combination of flexible fabric materials and fabricatedusing common stitching techniques. The sleeve segment inner surface andsleeve segment outer surface are preferably a flexible fabric material.Such various flexible fabric materials include cotton, polyester, nylon,and any combination thereof. Other fabrics not enumerated herein mayalso be used to fabricate the insulating cup sleeve system.Additionally, the outside surface may contain a graphic design. Thegraphic design may be applied in any number of ways including, but notlimited to, stitching, printing, or heat applied decals.

As further shown in FIG. 3, the elastic gusset 320 is preferablystructured and arranged to allow the insulating cup sleeve system toadapt to various cup 350 shapes and sizes. The elastic gusset 320preferably allows the insulating cup sleeve system to expand asnecessary to fit snugly over most cup sizes. Additionally, the elasticgusset preferably allows the insulating cup sleeve system to adapt andconform to various cup sidewall shapes such as semi-conical, curvy, orother non-conventional cup shapes.

As shown in FIG. 1, the insulating material 140 is preferably positionedbetween the segment sleeve inner surface 120 and the segment sleeveouter surface 130. The insulating material 140 is preferably not securedto either the segment sleeve inner surface 120 or the segment sleeveouter surface 130. Not being secured to either fabric surface allows theinsulating material to conform more evenly as the insulating cup sleevesystem 100 is applied to a cup.

The insulating material is preferably comprised of a material withinsulative properties to protect a user's hand from the heat or coldtransferring through the sidewall of a cup, or liquid vessel. Types ofinsulative material include, but are not limited to, various fabricbatting materials, such as cotton, neoprene rubber material, or any typeof insulation material not enumerated herein.

Alternately preferably, the insulating material may be secured to eitherthe segment sleeve inner surface or the outer surface using a fabricadhesive, or secured to both surfaces using a fabric adhesive.Alternately preferably, the insulating material may be secured to eitherof the segment sleeve inner and/or outer surfaces by stitching theinsulating material directly to the surfaces.

We claim:
 1. An insulating cup sleeve system comprising: a sleevesegment, wherein an inner surface and an outer surface cover aninsulating material, wherein an upper edge and a lower edge couple saidinner surface to said outer surface, and wherein a first end and asecond end of said sleeve segment couple said inner surface to saidouter surface; and an elastic gusset couples said first end to saidsecond end of said sleeve segment to form a tubular shape.
 2. Theinsulating cup sleeve system of claim 1 wherein said elastic gussetallows said sleeve segment to adjust to various cup shapes and sizes. 3.The insulating cup sleeve system of claim 1 wherein said upper edgefurther comprises a rolled seam extending from said inner surface tosaid outer surface of said sleeve segment.
 4. The insulating cup sleevesystem of claim 1 wherein said lower edge further comprises a rolledseam extending from said inner surface to said outer surface of saidsleeve segment.
 5. The insulating cup sleeve system of claim 1 whereinsaid insulating material further comprises a neoprene material.
 6. Theinsulating cup sleeve system of claim 1 wherein said insulating materialfurther comprises a fabric batting material.
 7. The insulating cupsleeve system of claim 1 wherein said elastic gusset is a full width ofsaid sleeve segment.
 8. The insulating cup sleeve system of claim 1wherein said outer surface further comprises a graphic design.